Hoop Group Spring Jam Fest Report

* Any college coach seeking additional information on any players, including projected collegiate level, may make an inquiry at necorridorhoops@gmail.com

Lorenzo Washington 5’11 Point Guard 2022 (CT Select/Our Savior Lutheran): While Washington did not have his most efficient day from the field, he still was able to show in spurts what makes him a dangerous bucket getter along with his ability to get others involved during CT Select’s win over Early Risers. The 2020 Connecticut First Team All State Selection cannot be left alone from beyond the arc. Hit a pair of spot up treys in the contest from the wing and top of the key. Also showcased his pull-up game, using a crisp crossover move to nail a mid-range jumper. Washington uses good body control at the rim when going up against taller defenders. Had a nice play shielding off an opponent at the basket in transition to finish a left hand layup. Finished the game with 12 points. He is a solid playmaker as well who makes his teammates better. Hit a cutting teammate in transition for a layup in addition to making the right decision when an opponent helped on him in the lane, dishing it off to a teammate next to the hoop for an easy finish. Defensively, Washington does a nice job of creating steals. Had a pair of thefts in the game, plucking the ball away from an opponent on a drive to the basket, as well as picking off a pass in transition to take it the other way for an and-1.

Diamonte McMillan 6’0 Point Guard 2021 (Early Risers/Tennessee Prep): McMillan put constant pressure on opponents, scoring in a variety of ways during Early Risers’ loss to CT Select. He needs to be accounted for from long range, hitting three three-pointers in the contest. Hit a pair of spot up treys from the wing and corner, along with a nice three off the bounce from the wing that was heavily contested. McMillan is very effective in transition creating both for himself and others, using his speed and quickness to produce high percentage attempts at the rim. Had a nice play pushing the ball on the break before slicing through the defense for a finger roll layup, in addition to using a hesitation move to freeze an opponent before finishing at the basket. Also rewarded a pair of teammates with lobs in transition for easy layups. Finished the game with 21 points. Despite McMillan’s size, he is able to make an impact on the glass with his toughness and adeptness for being in the right place at the right time. Corralled seven rebounds, including three on the offensive end.

Johannes Kirsipuu 6’2 Combo Guard 2021 (6th Man Warriors/Scotland Campus): Kirsipuu was a relentless penetrator in 6th Man Warriors’ victory over Albany City Rocks. Uses a quick first step to get into the paint at a good rate, along with having an array of crafty layups in his arsenal to finish at the rim efficiently. Scored an important bucket late in the game, using an up and under move after driving to the hoop to finish. Scores well at the rim through contact when slashing to the rim, finishing three and-1s in the contest. Also showed good composure hitting two crucial free throws late in the game to put his team up four. Finished the game with 15 points. While it was not Kirsipuu’s game from beyond the arc, he has good mechanics on shot, and showed this past season at Scotland that he makes treys at a solid rate both spotting up and off the bounce.

Preston Graber 6’4 Shooting Guard 2021 (Albany City Rocks Orange/Albany Academy): Graber stretched the floor well for Albany City Rocks Orange in their loss against 6th Man Warriors. The southpaw is very efficient beyond the arc, along with needing very little time and space to get his shot off. Had a trio of treys in the contest, draining a three in transition from the wing early in the game, along with moving to the top of the key as time was winding down in the first half to hit a buzzer beater trifecta well behind the line. Graber showed he is more than a shooter though. Had a nice crossover move from the top of the key for a deep two, in addition to a strong drive from the corner to draw a shooting foul. Had 15 points in the game. Also has good instincts as a passer. Graber used a jump pass to quickly get the ball to a teammate for an open trey before an opponent could make a quality contest, along with making the right decision in transition giving the ball right back to a teammate for an easy layup. Defensively, he is consistently in the right spots on his rotations. He makes sure to put a body on an opponent when going for rebounds. Only had three rebounds in the contest but averaged eight per game this past high school season.

Jao Ituka 6’2 Combo Guard 2021 (Team STAT Premier/Gaithersburg HS): Ituka made his presence felt on both ends of the floor in Team STAT Premier’s win against PPA Broncos. Uses his chiseled frame to get to the rim at a very good rate, in addition to being a skilled finisher with both hands. Had a pair of nice straight line drives from the top of the key and wing for smooth finishes. Ituka also is a good ball handler who does a nice job of creating his own shot. Used a sharp through the legs crossover move to hit a deep two on an opponent from the corner, in addition to another through the legs move to get by an opponent and score at the rim with his left hand. While getting to the rim is Ituka’s first option in his offensive arsenal, he can still space the floor effectively when spotting up for three-pointers. Drained a spot up trey from the wing, acting as an outlet for his teammate who picked up his dribble in the paint. Finished the game with 20 points. He is also a solid playmaker. Had a nice pocket pass to a teammate cutting to the hoop, along with making the correct decision dishing the ball off to a teammate in the lane for a two hand dunk when a defender collapsed on him. Ituka could have easily had 2-3 more assists on good drive and kick plays he made to teammates where the shots just did not fall. Defensively, he has solid lateral quickness limiting opponents from getting dribble penetration on him. Also makes quick movements to the ball when going for steals. Picked off a pass in the halfcourt being in the right position when an opponent drove baseline and tried to hit a cutting teammate, in addition to taking advantage when an opponent mishandled a pass in transition to take it the other way for a one hand slam. Ituka contributes real well on the glass for his position, using his strength and intense desire for the ball to rebound at a very good rate. Had six rebounds in the contest.

Marcus Burnett 6’6 Shooting Guard 2021 (PPA Broncos/Springfield Commonwealth Academy): Burnett was outstanding from long range in PPA Broncos’ loss to Team STAT Premier. Makes three-pointers just as effectively off the bounce as he does when spotting up to go with having very deep range on his shot. Drained a trey from the wing using a through the legs step back move, in addition to hitting a pull up three that was well behind the line. He hit a pair of NBA range treys when spotting up from near the top of the key. Burnett also is reliable in the mid-range. Nailed a turnaround jumper off the dribble, as well as hitting a smooth pull-up near the foul line on a broken play in transition. Finished the game with 26 points. He can make teammates better with his playmaking ability. Uses his size to see over opponents and find open holes. Burnett had a nice play where he got cut off at the foul line and hit a teammate with a pin point pass between two defenders for a layup. Also used an on target bounce pass to hit a teammate on the break in stride for a high percentage finish at the rim.

Tyshawn Trail 6’3 Shooting Guard 2022 (Diallo Elite/Tilton School): Trail was very difficult for opponents to stay in front of during Diallo Elite’s victory against East Coast Cyclones. Uses his quick first step to get into the lane at a very good rate where he is an effective finisher both in the mid-range and at the rim. Used a nice through the legs move to get by an opponent and nail a pull-up jumper at the foul line, in addition to finishing a soft floater on a drive from the wing. Trail drew an important shooting foul late in the game when it was tied on a straight line drive from the wing to give his team the lead. He also excels in transition. Showed his speed immediately pushing the ball up the floor off a rebound to draw a shooting foul, as well as finishing a left hand layup off a give and go on the break. Trail can also space the floor from deep well when spotting up. He only hit one trey in the game but it was a big one that was from well behind the line and tied the game up with 4:10 left. Finished the game with 21 points. Defensively, he was active in his team’s zone, making quick movements to challenge opponent’s shots and using his length to take away passing lanes.

Joseph Scrivanich 6’4 Shooting Guard 2022 (East Coast Cyclones/Bergen Catholic HS): Scrivanich did a very good job of letting the game come to him during East Coast Cyclones’ loss to Diallo Elite. He picks his spots well and rarely takes bad shots. Has a smooth stroke from long range when spotting up. Drained a corner three-pointer in transition on a drive and kick from his teammate, in addition to hitting another spot up trey from the wing. Scrivanich moved well without the ball against the opponent’s zone. Had a nice play cutting to the open spot behind the zone to draw a shooting foul. He also runs hard in transition leading to easy points for his team. Scored a pair of layups on beautiful outlet passes from his teammate by immediately sprinting down the floor after the rebound was secured. Had 14 points in the contest. Scrivanich gives good effort on the glass. Showed a knack for being around the ball when it came off the rim. Finished the game with five rebounds.

Copyright © 2021 Jared Exler, All rights reserved.